The last network meeting is over, and now it is time to first look back and then forward. What did we experience and learn, how we are going to utilize this all in the future? We have met four times: First in Austria, where we got to know each other, our areas and projects. The … Continue reading Towards new and unknown

The last IIRA conference is over and here are some notes and memories from Lappajärvi. The conference actually started already in the evening of arrival. The participants were ‘welcomed’ as they were arriving to a refugee centre. Only Finnish and Arabic were spoken to those who didn’t know these languages. Photos were taken, and security … Continue reading IIRA in Lappajärvi 18.-19.9.2018

All together 80 people have registered to the last IIRA conference in Lappajärvi, Finland. The oraganisation team have been working for a year for the conference and are waiting to show the results to the participants. During the three days, we will face the unknown, learn to know it and plan the future – all … Continue reading Welcome to Lappajärvi

3rd network conference of IIRA took place in Brilon, Germany in March 2018. 80 experts of integration gathered together to develop their local work. We also got to know innovative integration activities in Hochsauerland and heard about experiences of Syrian refugees. Workshops played a big role in this conference. Participants had an opportunity to pool … Continue reading Thank you, Brilon!

New-comers need contacts to local people to be able to integrate – no one integrates themselves to employment office or social security system. Here volunteers play a huge role. Volunteers are the representatives of the community and the way of life. In Varberg conference, Josefin Heed from Hela Sverige ska Leva -organization gave us something … Continue reading Volunteering – How to get people involved?

Integration will not happen in class rooms and lectures, although those are needed in the process. We need to DO things and MEET other people to become integrated. But how to express oneself with low language skills? Art can be one solution. In Scheunenatellier Braunshausen, Germany, cold smith classes for refugees are organized. After learning … Continue reading Arts in integration

Believe it or not, in the middle of the most beautiful summer, the project partnerts aready wait fot September. It may not be as sunny and warm as the summer we enjoy at the moment, but surely at least as inspiring. In September, we will meet in Varberg, Sweden, for our second network meeting! The … Continue reading Looking forward for September

The very first network seminar took place in Tirol, Austria in March 2017. Almost 70 integration experts got together in beautiful Sankt Johann in Tirol. Two days of networking, discussions and field trips were definitely worth travelling! National procedures in the refugee process and integration were introduced during the first day. We also had … Continue reading St.Johann in Tirol, 29th-30th March 2017